The Email That Made Me Ugly-Cry at Starbucks
I almost deleted it.
Between the 50% off Sephora promo and my electric bill reminder, an unfamiliar subject line stopped me:
"Your FutrLtr from 2020 Has Arrived"
2020? The year of sweatpants, sourdough starters, and existential dread? I’d completely forgotten I’d scribbled that letter during a 3 a.m. lockdown meltdown.
I clicked—and promptly wept into my oat milk latte.
The Time Capsule I Didn’t Know I Needed
There it was—raw, unfiltered 2020-me:
"Hey Future Sarah,
If you’re reading this, CONGRATS! You survived:
Dating that guy who thought ‘Hygge’ was a Pokémon
Attempting TikTok dances (RIP your dignity)
Believing ‘unprecedented times’ was a temporary phase ????
PLEASE tell me:
You finally published your novel (even if it’s fanfiction)
You replaced that dying succulent (his name is Steve, show mercy)
You stopped apologizing for taking up space.
— Past You, currently burning banana bread #again"
I laughed so hard I snorted. Then cried again when I realized:
✅ Novel published? Check.
✅ Steve the succulent? Thriving.
❌ Still over-apologizing? "Sorry for existing!"
Why This Felt Like Magic
I’ve tried journaling apps. Meditation retreats. Expensive therapy. Nothing came close to this.
Why?
-It was a gift I forgot I gave myself – no expectations, just pure surprise
-My past voice was brutally kind – she roasted me with love
-It measured growth in confessions, not productivity metrics
Thank You, FutrLtr Team!
To the creators:
You built more than an app. You built:
A time machine for my self-doubt → self-compassion pipeline
A mirror that reflects how far I’ve come
A permission slip to laugh at my own chaos
The fact you do this 100% free (seriously, no paywalls?!) while fighting server costs with just tiny ads? That’s pure generosity.
My Challenge to You
Send your future self a letter → http://futureletter.org/ (Write a Letter to the Future)
Forget about it – let Future You receive the best surprise
Come back here and tag me (@SarahJ) when it arrives!
